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Swine flu outbreak at Bowdoin
Officials: H1N1, EEE both spreading in Maine
By John Hale
Capital Weekly Reporter
AUGUSTA (Sep 10): There has been an escalation of cases of the H1N1 virus in Maine since the opening of school, officials say, and Bowdoin College is experiencing an outbreak of swine flu among its students.
Twenty-nine Bowdoin students have been stricken by H1N1, or swine flu, Dr. Dora Anne Mills, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control, said Thursday.
?They are doing a great job of isolating these kids right away,? Mills said. ?They were prepared for it.?
Meanwhile, Mills said that nine horses, mainly in Waldo and southern Penobscot counties have died from mosquito-borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
?This is a human disease, not just a horse disease,? Mills said. ?You should avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes until the risk passes. This is fairly widespread, from Stetson to Berwick. We have not detected any cases in people yet, but if you?re near bogs or wetlands, be especially careful.?
She advised wearing long-sleeves and long pants, especially at dawn and dusk, and using bug repellent with the chemical DEET in it.
While it is extremely rare for a human to contract EEE from a single mosquito bite, Mills said that one third of those who do contract the diease die.
And half the survivors suffer permanent neurological damage.
?We have asked schools to schedule night games earlier in the day (when mosquitoes are less active),? said Mills, adding that mosquitoes are more active when the air temperature is above 60 degrees.
Dr. Donald Hoenig, state veterinarian, said most of the horses that have died had not been vaccinated against EEE and others had incomplete vaccinations.
Mills said the threat of EEE will pass after the first couple of killing frosts that will eradicate the mosquito population.
As for H1N1, Mills said, ?You can expect to see more students and schools involved in coming weeks. This is not unexpected. Schools in grades K-12 are stepping up to offer H1N1 vaccine and seasonal vaccine to children. We?re helping schools to find health-care providers (to administer the vaccinations).?
Maine schools will be offering a massive vaccination program this fall against both seasonal flu and H1N1, the vaccine for which comes in two doses about three weeks apart.
Mills said some schools will offer both vaccines together in mid-October when the first batch of H1N1 vaccine arrives and then offer the second dose of H1N1 vaccine perhaps in early November.
She said other schools are already offering the seasonal flu vaccinations now. Then they will offer the H1N1 vaccine as it arrives.
Mills said many schools are opening their vaccinations to preschoolers from day-care centers to reach younger children.
The Center for Disease Control sent a letter this week to 3,000 early-childhood providers informing them of the availability of the vaccinations.
?We?re doing everything we can to get every school to participate,? said Mills. ?If they need a refrigerator, we?re getting them a refrigerator.?
The priority list for H1N1 vaccinations is pregnant women first; then children 6 months old to age 25; then people from age 25 to 65 with underlying health conditions; then caregivers for children younger than
6 months; then health-care workers.
?Eventually, we?ll have enough vaccine for everyone,? Mills said.
She said H1N1 is ?very highly transmissible, because there is no immunity in young people. Most people get it mildly, but some have died from it.?
She advised people to:
? Wash their hands frequently, especially before they touch their face or eat.
? Cover coughs or sneezes with a sleeve or a tissue.
? Stay home if sick.
http://waldo.villagesoup.com/Government/story.cfm?storyID=175663
Officials: H1N1, EEE both spreading in Maine
By John Hale
Capital Weekly Reporter
AUGUSTA (Sep 10): There has been an escalation of cases of the H1N1 virus in Maine since the opening of school, officials say, and Bowdoin College is experiencing an outbreak of swine flu among its students.
Twenty-nine Bowdoin students have been stricken by H1N1, or swine flu, Dr. Dora Anne Mills, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control, said Thursday.
?They are doing a great job of isolating these kids right away,? Mills said. ?They were prepared for it.?
Meanwhile, Mills said that nine horses, mainly in Waldo and southern Penobscot counties have died from mosquito-borne Eastern Equine Encephalitis.
?This is a human disease, not just a horse disease,? Mills said. ?You should avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes until the risk passes. This is fairly widespread, from Stetson to Berwick. We have not detected any cases in people yet, but if you?re near bogs or wetlands, be especially careful.?
She advised wearing long-sleeves and long pants, especially at dawn and dusk, and using bug repellent with the chemical DEET in it.
While it is extremely rare for a human to contract EEE from a single mosquito bite, Mills said that one third of those who do contract the diease die.
And half the survivors suffer permanent neurological damage.
?We have asked schools to schedule night games earlier in the day (when mosquitoes are less active),? said Mills, adding that mosquitoes are more active when the air temperature is above 60 degrees.
Dr. Donald Hoenig, state veterinarian, said most of the horses that have died had not been vaccinated against EEE and others had incomplete vaccinations.
Mills said the threat of EEE will pass after the first couple of killing frosts that will eradicate the mosquito population.
As for H1N1, Mills said, ?You can expect to see more students and schools involved in coming weeks. This is not unexpected. Schools in grades K-12 are stepping up to offer H1N1 vaccine and seasonal vaccine to children. We?re helping schools to find health-care providers (to administer the vaccinations).?
Maine schools will be offering a massive vaccination program this fall against both seasonal flu and H1N1, the vaccine for which comes in two doses about three weeks apart.
Mills said some schools will offer both vaccines together in mid-October when the first batch of H1N1 vaccine arrives and then offer the second dose of H1N1 vaccine perhaps in early November.
She said other schools are already offering the seasonal flu vaccinations now. Then they will offer the H1N1 vaccine as it arrives.
Mills said many schools are opening their vaccinations to preschoolers from day-care centers to reach younger children.
The Center for Disease Control sent a letter this week to 3,000 early-childhood providers informing them of the availability of the vaccinations.
?We?re doing everything we can to get every school to participate,? said Mills. ?If they need a refrigerator, we?re getting them a refrigerator.?
The priority list for H1N1 vaccinations is pregnant women first; then children 6 months old to age 25; then people from age 25 to 65 with underlying health conditions; then caregivers for children younger than
6 months; then health-care workers.
?Eventually, we?ll have enough vaccine for everyone,? Mills said.
She said H1N1 is ?very highly transmissible, because there is no immunity in young people. Most people get it mildly, but some have died from it.?
She advised people to:
? Wash their hands frequently, especially before they touch their face or eat.
? Cover coughs or sneezes with a sleeve or a tissue.
? Stay home if sick.
http://waldo.villagesoup.com/Government/story.cfm?storyID=175663